Worm-gear for training guns.



Patehted Dec.'26, I899. A. T. DAWSON & a. T. BUCKHAM.

WORM GEAR FOR TRAINING GUNS..

(Application filed m 28, 1899.)

(No Model.)

w kv Y UNITE STATES ENGLAND,,ASSIGNORS TO THE VICKERS,

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND.

SONS a MAXIM, LIMITED, or

\NORM-GEAR FOR TRAINING GUNS.

Y Y srsdxmcazrrorr forming art of Letters LPatent No. 640,110, dated December 26,1899.

A Application filed August 28,1899- Serial No. 728,790. (No model.) I

To all'whom it mag concern: Be :it known that we, ,ARTHUIt TREVOR DAWSON and GEORGE; THOMAS BUCKHAM, citizens of England, residing at .28 Victoria 5 street, Westminster, London, England, have invented a certain new and usefullm'provement in Worm-Gear for Training Guns, (for which we have applied fora patent in Great Britain, dated February 0, v1899, No. 2,663,)

IQ of which the following is a specifi'cation.

j The worm for training-a gun is usually so arranged that if accident should happen to the gun can .no' longer be trained. v v This invention relates to an arrangement of the worm-gear such that in case of accident the worm can be removed, leaving the.

gun free to be trained by hand or otherwise. For this purpose we arrange the Worm-gear as we shall describe, referring to the accomzo panying drawings.

Figure l is a sectional view of-the parts comprising our invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line AA of Fig. 1.' Figs. 3 and ishow details.

As shown in Fig. 1, which represents the worm in the middle and the hand-workedspindle in itsfull length on one side, but

.broken off on the other. side, which latter is to :be understood as being symmetrical with 0 the first-named side, we make the spindle 0f the worm in two parts a a, the ends of which abut in the middle of the worm I). These ends and the bore of the worm are provided with keys and grooves, so that the spindles can slide in the worm, which must turn withthem.- The other-ends of the spindles a a pass through suitable bearings, as shown in Fig. 1, and through the bosses of bevelwheels 0, provided with keys and grooves, so

40 that the spindles can slide through the wheels, but must turn with them. These ends are also screw-threaded and provided with nuts d outside the bevel-wheels 0. These nuts are mounted in fixed bearing-ed, which permit them to be revolved, but do not permit them to be moved longitudinally. Usuall one or otherof the bevel-wheels is worked by a bevel-pinion e, turned by hand, and thus the worm is turned, causing the worm-wheel with which it gears to turn.

The worm 1) gears with a worm-wheel f, which is fixed on the vertical central shaft of the gun-mounting or the turret or turn-table on which the gun is carried, so that as either of the part spindles a or both are turned by 5 5 hand the gun is trained; but should the Wormgear be injured so that it cannot work then .by turning the nuts d the spindles a a are Withdrawn out of the worm, leaving it free, so that it can be withdrawn from engagement with the worm-wheel, and then the guncan be raised by other means. Q

In order to prevent the nuts (I from screw ing up and binding on the threaded spindle a when said spindle is being operated, we provide means for locking the nut-to the spindle andi-ca'using'it torevolve therewith when training'the gun, such means consisting of a. pin 0Z 'remova'bly inserted through a trans- ,verse opening-or hole in thenut and spindle,

as illustrated in the drawings; lhis pin 01 can be readily removed when 'it is fiesired to turn. t e nutd to-wi-thdra'w the spindle at out of'the worm;

' "Iii thecase where the spindle g, which is turned by hand, crosses inTfro'nt ofthenfut'd' thespindleis made separable, having aLcoupr' ling h, of which Fig.'3 is a section, so that'by I removing a screw '5 the spind leg can bedrawn- 'backthrough the pinion e, so as, to give free; access tofthef nut d; 1' I I The worm bhas-its ends, formed as journals working in bearings" in- "a frame I, whicliis fitted on the-baseof the'rnountingso that when the spindles are withdrawnfrom theworm and a catch screw-nut released the frame can be drawnback, moving the worm out of gearwith the worm wheel. I 3 w i The catch-screw m,of which Fig. 415 a front view,.has a segment cut from one side of its 9 head, so that when it is in one position, as shown in the drawings,the full part of its head bearingagains't the frame lprevents it from being withdrawn; but when the ,screw is turned half around, bringing the cut-ofi-part 5 tothe frame Z, then the frame can be drawn back, but not completely out of the carriage, bringing the worm b out of gear with the wormwheel f, and then on again turning the screw m half around its head becomes engaged in a zoo notch 'n in the side of the frame Z and holds.

the frame in its withdrawn position.

Having thus described the nature of this invention and the best means .we know for carrying the same into practical efiect, we claim v 1. In a worm-gear for training a gun, the combination of a worm-wheel fixed on the vertical training-axis, a worm gearing with said wheel and provided with a central bore and mounted in a movable frame, an operating spindle formed in two parts the ends of which abut in the middle of the bore of the worm, and means for withdrawing both p'arts of the spindle in opposite directions from the worm thereby leaving the latter free to be moved out of gear with the worm-wheel, substantially as described.

2. In a worm-gear for training a gun, the combination of a worm-wheel fixed on the training-axis, a worm gearing with said wheel and provided with an axial bore, a movable frame in which said worm is mounted, a twopart operating-spindle the adjacent ends of which are located in the bore of the worm, and means'for withdrawing both parts of the spindle from the bore of the worm thereby leaving the latter free to be moved out of gear with the worm-wheel, substantially as described.

3. In a worm-gear for training a gun, the combination with' a worm-wheel fixed on the training-axis, of a worm gearing with said wheel and provided with an axial bore, a hori- 'zontally-sliding frame in which said worm is mounted, a two-part operating-spindle the adjacent ends of which are seated inthe axial bore of the worm, and means for withdrawing both parts of the two-part spindle from the worm whereby the said frame may be moved horizontally to take the worm out of gear with the worm-wheel, substantially as described.

4:. In a worm-gear for training a gun, the combination with a'worm-wheel fixed on the vertical training-axis, of a worm gearing with said wheel and provided with an axial bore, a laterally-movable frame in which said worm is mounted, an operating-spindle having a part seated in said axial bore of the worm, and means for withdrawing said spindle from the worm whereby the said frame may be moved laterally to take the worm outof gear with the wheel, substantially as described.

' 5. In a worm-gear for training guns, the

combination with a worm-wheel fixed on the training-axis, of a worm gearing with said wheel, a laterally-movable support'for said worm, and means for rotating the worm, said rotating means being detachably connected with the Worm in such manner as to be disconnected therefrom to enable the worm and its support to be moved away from the wheel,- substantially as described.

6. In a Worm-gear for training guns, the' combination with a worm-wheel fixed on the training-axis, of a worm gearing with said Wheel, a laterally-movable support for said worm, means for locking said support in po sition, and means'for rotating the worm, said rotating means being detachably connected with the worm in such manner as to be disconnected therefrom to enable the worm and its support to be moved away from the wheel, substantially as described.

7. In a worm-gear for training guns, the combination with a worm-wheel fixed on the training axis, of a worm gearing with said wheel, a laterally-movable support for said worm, means for locking said support in position to hold the worm in mesh with the wheel, means for rotating the worm, said rotating means being detachably connected to the worm in such manner as to be discon= nected therefrom to enable the worm'and its .support to be moved away from the wheel,

and means for locking said support when so moved to hold the worm out of contact with the wheel, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON. GEORGE THOMAS BUOKI-IAM.

Witnesses:

S. A. DARDIER,

HENRY KING. 

